Definition
VLE is the maximum airspeed at which an airplane may be safely flown with the landing gear in the fully extended (down and locked) position. Exceeding VLE risks structural damage to the gear, gear doors, or supporting airframe components from aerodynamic loads.
Plain English
Once the wheels are down and locked, this is the fastest the airplane can be flown without risking damage to the gear or the structure that holds it.
Context Anchor
Seen in approach and landing procedures, especially after the landing gear has been lowered and the pilot must keep the airplane within its gear-down speed limit.
Derivation
The 'V' comes from the French vitesse, meaning speed -- the standard prefix for aviation speed limits. 'LE' stands for Landing gear Extended. Knowing the V-prefix family helps pilots recognize VLE as one of several airspeed limits (VNE, VFE, VLO, etc.) rather than a random code.
Why Pilots Care
Exceeding VLE with the gear extended risks structural damage to the gear doors, struts, or attachments and can create excessive drag.
Intuition Check
VLE is not a target approach speed. It is a limit: with the landing gear extended, stay at or below VLE.
Example Sentence 1
On a fast descent into the airport, the pilot kept an eye on the airspeed indicator to ensure she stayed below VLE after lowering the gear.
Example Sentence 2
During the descent checklist the crew confirmed they were well under VLE before extending the gear.